Etihad Airways plans to recruit around 7,000 additional employees across different departments by 2035 as the Abu Dhabi-based airline continues its rapid expansion and increases efforts to develop Emirati talent.
Dr Nadia Bastaki, chief people, government and corporate affairs officer at Etihad Airways, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 that the airline aims to increase its workforce to 22,000 employees by 2035. That would represent an increase of more than 45 per cent from its current headcount.
Etihad expects to finish 2026 with about 15,000 employees, with recruitment expected to continue at a similar pace in the years ahead. The airline is growing by around 20 per cent annually and expects to hire more than 3,000 people this year, with most positions involving frontline operational roles.
Pilots, technicians and engineers are among the key categories being targeted as Etihad expands its network and operations.
Bastaki said the airline has already hired about 1,340 employees this year, while another 600 are in the recruitment pipeline and an additional 300 are expected to join before the end of the year. This puts Etihad on course to meet its recruitment target for the year.
The airline also continued hiring during a six-month period of regional disruption that affected airlines and the wider travel and tourism industry. Bastaki said Etihad recruited about 700 employees during that period without suspending international recruitment. The company moved parts of its onboarding process online to allow new employees to join despite the disruption.
Emiratisation remains an important part of the airline’s workforce strategy. Etihad expects more than 300 UAE nationals to enter the company this year through its cadet, airport and technician programmes, alongside Emiratis recruited directly into positions designated for UAE nationals.
The airline is also seeking to develop UAE nationals through succession planning and leadership programmes, while maintaining diversity across its workforce.
Etihad’s expansion has also increased interest from potential employees. Bastaki said the airline has recorded 46 per cent profit growth alongside its 20 per cent annual operational growth, helping attract talent with opportunities for relatively rapid career progression.
The airline conducts monthly recruitment campaigns in the UAE and overseas. Recent recruitment activity has focused on Europe, with campaigns planned for Africa and China as Etihad expands in those markets.
Technology is also playing a growing role in recruitment. Bastaki said Etihad has invested heavily in artificial intelligence over the past two years, including virtual interviews and screening systems capable of assessing more than 50,000 applications in less than three days.
Cabin crew positions are particularly competitive, with the airline receiving more than 100,000 applications. Automated screening helps assess and rank applicants before shortlisted candidates move to interviews conducted by human recruiters.
